COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONWell, the temperature is dropping and the days are getting shorter. You know what that means donít you? Itís time for our WINTER BREWÖ A full-bodied, high-octane brew capped off with our use of cinnamon and mace. This beer will warm you all the way to your bones. Brewed only one day a year. We only bottle 4200 liters, 550 12 oz. cases, and a handful of kegs, so get it while you can.

1L swingtop, from 2004. Dark color, nice creamy head. Spicy, cardamon? vanilla cream soda flavor comes through...not subtle but not overdone with the spicing, although they have mellowed from when I drank another bottle of this last year...nice uniform flavor, slightly roasty reminding one that this is still a beer(porter-like), not a spice soup. Light bodied and quite drinkable, which is always nice! being able to drink your beer is good...

Sorta like a spiced porter. Very smooth with a hint of bitters, nutmeg, and mace. Medium carbonation, nice head and appearance. Pefect to have a keg on tap for the family at Christmas - which this is the second year I have had it. I drank a bottled 2004 this week - ages very well.

hmm, spice/herb/vegetable? i would say itís more like a spiced porter. smell is chocolate and cinnamon sweetness, and the only role of the hops in the aroma is to balance an amazing amount of malt. the flavor is very sweet and warming thanks to the spice and chocolate/crystal malt, and there is just a hint of hops in the finish that keeps it from feeling like syrup on your tongue even after youíve drunk it all. a very nice holiday brew, and where the heck did 8.6% alcohol go??

1 liter, flip top bottle dipped in red wax (first time Iíve seen a waxed flip top bottle). Poured a dark brown color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of spices, dark fruits, and caramel. Tastes of spices, caramel, and chocolate. Alcohol content hidden (never would have guessed it was over 8%).

Festive pours a clear black with a small white head. Smells incredible - sweet, a little spicy, but not overly so. Taste is mostly comprised of alcohol sugars, various spices, and malt. Overall, a good Winter Brew.

12 oz bottle, 2005 vintage, via trade with CaptainCougar. Pours a dark mahogany, clear, with a small bone-white head. Subtly spiced aroma with a sweet malt base and some alcohol as well. Finally a decent Christmas beer thatís not over spiced! Flavor is akin to a thinnish porter or a heavy brown ale. Not really sure of the spices in here, maybe nutmeg and cinnamon, either way they only really shine thru on the finish. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Competing for top 5 Christmas beers for me, very similar to Anchor OSA, just toned down a bit. I drank this bottle in big gulps. Very, very drinkable.

Poured from a bottle this beer (2005 batch) appears a dark brown with a thin head. Aroma is spicey, malty with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Spicey cinnamon on the tongue with plenty of malty sweetness. The nutmeg (mace) really comes through in the finish along with a roasty smokiness and hop characteristic that balances the sweet flavors. Some lacing on the glass as I sip. Full mouthfeel with just enough fizz and the 8.6 ABV is barely noticeable making this a sneaky beer. A nice holiday brew.

Bottle: Courtesy of aracauna via trade. Very spicey aroma with lots of nutmeg and light clove. Pours a dark brown with virtually no transparency and an insignificant off-white head. Lots of nutmeg and light clove up front with a touch of molassesand brown sugar. Hints of roastiness in the background. Moderate cinnamon in the finish.

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